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Smash and Grab by Sunanda K Datta-Ray provides the detail
historical facts of how and what led to the annexation of Sikkim by India in 1975. Both during British India rule and post independence, Sikkim
was an independent kingdom and had never been one of the princely states. During
British India rule, the only document that governed the relation between the
Sikkim and British India was the 1861 treaty, which referred Sikkim as an
independent country.

Sikkim executed new treaty with the Republic of India in
1950 which superseded 1861 treaty with British India. 1950 treaty made Sikkim
protectorate of India and all external affairs, defense and communication were
under the control of Indian Government. The 1950 treaty granted Sikkim its internal
autonomy, but that was taken away by Indian government, layer by layer. By 1973,
all internal affairs of the Sikkim administration were under the control of the
Indian government.

Nehru made several attempts to control the internal
administration of Sikkim, especially through financing five-year plans. Chogyal
wanted to promote small scale industries; Nehru wanted to promote agriculture
for enabling the imposition of high tax to invoke the revolt against the Chogyal.
Beggar has no choice but only to yield to the Indian government at the end.

The real Indian imperialism seemed to have started only
after 1967 when Indira Gandhi took over the government from Nehru. Indira
Gandhi seemed to have been not very happy with Chogyal's American consort, Hope
Cook and Kazi's Belgian wife. Moreover, two ladies never came to terms. Hope
Cook’s western connection and the visit of her western friends to Sikkim irked
Indian government. Hope Cook’s nature of claiming Sikkim's long lost territory
like Darjeeling from India also did not go well with the Indian government.

After 1967, under Indira Gandhi's reign, people of Sikkim
demanded the revision of 1950 treaty to get rid of protectorate status. Through
revision, people hoped for complete independence of Sikkim while India wanted
more control. In the revision of treaty, Chogyal preferred to use the word
'protectorate' itself while Indira Gandhi proposed to use 'permanent association’.The word ‘protectorate’ bears some legal
status for right to self-determination under the international law, but the
phrase 'permanent association' has very vague legal status in the international
law. Chogyal very well knew about the legal status of protectorate state. He
requested financial assistance from India like Bhutan to join UN organizations
like WHO, ILO, etc. Sadly, India never heeded such request nor agreed to revise
the treaty without Sikkim agreeing to use the phrase 'permanent association' in
the treaty.

India did not stop. On the 50th birth anniversary
of Chogyal in 1973, in the name of demanding written constitution and democracy,
Indian representatives in Sikkim swayed demonstrations in Sikkim to revolt
against Chogyal's reign. When such demonstrations went extreme, in the pretext
of claiming weak internal management and to restore peace and stability in
Sikkim, India offered to take control of the Sikkim government.Chogyal was forced to signed an agreement
with Indian in 1973 to hand over government to restore the peace and stability.
Though India said temporary hand over but that was never meant to be temporary.
After the handover,India deputed
administrators in Sikkim and of all, Chief Executive was the most
influentialthat led the Chogyalto yield the India’s demand.

Kazi Lhendup’s enmity with Chogyal also helped India to
expand their control in Sikkim. Chogyal and Kazi never came to terms. Kazi was
always against Chogyal’s rule. In 1972, Kazi openly wrote about Chogyal accusing
of absolutism and corruption. Because of the fear of consequences, Kazi, and
his wife absconded to Europe. Kazi was critical for 1973 Sikkim election,
especially for India as he was likean
agent of the Indian government. By any means, India could not have afforded to
miss Kazi in 1973 election. The Political Officer who was the Indian
representative in Sikkim influenced Chogyal to pardon Kazi for his sedition
charges.Accordingly, Kazi received the
royal pardon after he submitted written apology to the Chogyal.Kazi’s party could not get majority seats in
1973 election; he made allegations of vote-rigging against the winning parties
and demanded re-election. The demonstrations followed which led to the signing
of the tripartite agreement between Chogyal, Political parties in Sikkim and
the Indian government. The agreement provided that a responsible government
would be established under the supervision of Chief Executive-Indian
representative in Sikkim. In accordance with the agreement, an election was
held in 1974. Kazi Lhendup's party, Sikkim National Congress won majority
seats, 31 of the total 32 seats.

With Kazi’s party majority in the assembly, it was never a difficult
task for India to control the assembly to pass the Government of Sikkim
Act,1974.According to the book, detail deliberation
of the Act, provision by provision, never happened.Instead, Act was passed within 15 minutes
without the members comprehending the actual content of the Act, as more than
80% of the members were not well versed with English.

Chogyal refused to grant assent to the Bill. He also went to
Delhi to discuss with Indira Gandhi. But his visit could not make difference as
the discussion in Delhi with Indira Gandhi was not successful. Instead, people
accused him of abandoning his country. After returning to Sikkim, he was threatened
with consequences if he refused to sign the bill. The author rightly described
Chogyal's assent to the Bill as ‘Chogyal's death warrant’.

One of the provisions of the Act provides that the people of
Sikkim can seek participation in the political institution of India. Kazi
discreetly wrote to India requesting for participation in the political
institution of India without Chogyal’s knowledge. A copy of the letter that was
sent to Delhi was forwarded to Chogyal only about a week later. As per Kazi's
discreet request, Indira Gandhi's government proposed 35th amendment
of Indian Constitution to make Sikkim, an associate state of India and to
provide two representatives from Sikkim in the Indian parliament.

Despite oppositions in the Indian Parliament, the 35th
amendment was passed and Sikkim was already an associate state of India then.

The validity of the Government of Sikkim Act was questioned
and challenged, and accordingly the court in Sikkim issued the injunction to
stay the representation of two members from Sikkim in the Indian Parliament.
The injunction proved to have been an obstruction for Indian to further their
objective of smashing Sikkim. The Chief Judge who issued the injunction was
lured away such a way to take leave from the office. Chief Executive knew that
Chief Judge would not listen to his request; he used Chief Judge's best friend
to instigate Chief Judge to take leave from office. As expected innocent
Chief Judge took leave and left to Delhi. The only independence
arm of the government was brought under Chief Executive’s control.Since then nothing was left independent. The
executive branch and legislative branch were already under the Chief
Executive's control.

At last moment when everything was about to get over, Kazi
and his wife seemed to have realized their treachery. Crown Prince Tenzing
negotiated with Kazi and reluctantly came to terms for the first time
ever.Crown Prince along with
legislators in Sikkim drafted a resolution to be sent to Indira Gandhi to hand
over all the roles of Chief Executive to the Chief Minister of Sikkim. India
knew about the meeting, and Kazi was threatened with consequences. Kazi could
not take the risk and he was immediately back to his old habit of treachery. He
withdrew all propositions that were supposed to be sent to Indira Gandhi signed
by legislators in Sikkim. Crown Prince Tenzing’s last hope was gone forever.

Indira Gandhi seemed to have learned a lesson from Crown
Prince's attempt. Not so long after Crown Prince’s failed attempt to take over
Chief Executive’s role, India with their thousands of armies smashed and
grabbed Sikkim forever. Sikkim could not
retaliate with their very few guards and weapons but only left at the mercy of
god helplessly losing their sovereignty forever. Even Chogyal could not do
anything. India ripped off everything from him, country as well as his personal
freedom. He was locked up in the palace without any communication nor any other
basic utilities like telephone, water, and electricity.

Finally, the referendum in Sikkim was held in 1975. The
merger referendum was held within 72 hours with all polling booths guarded by
Indian CRPS. The 36th Amendment of Indian constitution made Sikkim,
22nd State of India. Kazi was rewarded for his loyalty to India as a first
Chief minister of Sikkim.Bepin Behari
Lal who served as Chief Executive in Sikkim became the first governor of
Sikkim.

The book further provides the details facts about how Chogyal
was falsely implicated for various crimes by Indian representatives in Sikkim
and Kazi to destroy the loyalty towards Chogyal. The book also argues that
merger was unconstitutional and illegal as Indian Law cannot bind Sikkim people
and treaty cannot be amended through the amendment of the domestic law. The
only way merger would have legal is through amendment of Government of Sikkim
Act,1974. The another interesting part of the history of Sikkim is that when
Sikkim was facing such a terrible threat to their sovereignty, Hope Cook left
Chogyal and went to U.S never to be returned. She might have known that her
Queen status might end soon.

It seems democracy failed to protect the sovereignty of Sikkim.
Had people of Sikkim were bit patient for their constitution and democracy, I
think today Sikkim would have been another happy Himalayan Kingdom like ours.
It also gives you a timeless lesson of the importance of maintaining unwavering
loyalty towards our great Monarchs! Book was my best vacation treat, a great
read!

No matter what happens, good or bad,
life goes on and on. 2015 year has come
to an end now. With the end of the year, it's time to realize that I have
become a year older by age and in service. Most important realization of all is
that I'm a year closer to my death. I would cherish 2015 year as one of the
most memorable years of my life. Many important national events took place in
2015. A historic celebration of the 60th birth anniversary of our great fourth
Majesty took place and His Majesty declared the news of the birth of a royal
heir. Apart from national events, there are few important events that took
place relating to my life. I also took few important lifelong decisions in
2015.

It is time to revisit and check out my
resolution if I had set one- how far I have lived up to my resolution and how
far I have been shaped by resolution and become a changed man at the end of the
year. It would have been interesting to revisit my resolution, but I don't
remember I had set any resolution as such.

I completed my probation period in the civil
service and regularized my service as a regular and full- fledged civil
servant. I also got married and became a husband. I worked in Thimphu District
Court for about a year and from March 2015 I was transferred to Supreme Court.
In the Supreme Court, I had a chance to work directly under Honorable Chief
Justice. In May, I accompanied Honorable Chief Justice to Bangkok for UNEP
conference. In July, I also took leave from office and went home to meet my
parents. Towards the end of August 2014, I came to Washington for LLM. And
lately, I have completed my first semester of LLM course.

I did not have a good start of 2015
year. On the new year eve, I had to wait in the hospital for my grandfather who
was referred from Mongar Hospital. On January 1, I went to Wangdi on official
tour for dividing the properties between the divorced husband and wife. When I
was still in Wangdi, I heard the news of my wife’s relatives met an accident
in Trongsa andrushed back to Thimphu.
Although I did not have a good beginning of 2015, but, at least, had a good end
of the year without any other major problem. Thanks to Kencho Sum and everyone
for making 2015 a great and memorable year!. At the end of the year, as a civil servant I am constantly reminded of two duties. Duty to file income tax and declare assets. I am constantly reminded of these two duties all because of my last year's failure to declare assets on time. ACC nearly imposed me the penalty for late declaration. But my justification of being a fresh civil servant worked well to excuse my late declaration. This year, though away from home, but justification may not work every time. So, last year's failure gave me a lesson to remain constantly reminded of such duties at this time of the year. It is time to begin another new and
fresh chapter of life with new hopes and aspiration. With ever committed prayer
for peace, happiness and prosperity. Forget the hatred of the past, recall the
past failures as a lesson for achieving success in the new year ahead. May all
the misfortunes go away with 2015 year and May the new year bless us lots of
luck, happiness and peace !HAPPY NEW YEAR-2016!